During Arthritis Awareness Month, it’s essential to recognize the challenges that those with arthritis face, particularly in walking and dressing. These daily activities can become daunting tasks due to pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility. Fortunately, the Disability Tax Credit (DTC) is available to help alleviate some of the financial burden. As a DTC specialist, I assist individuals in navigating the complex application process, ensuring they receive the support they deserve. This tax credit can make a significant difference, offering financial relief that can be used toward medical treatments, mobility aids, and adaptive clothing.
Community News
Is Arthritis Preventable?
You can’t always prevent arthritis, but there are a few healthy habits you can practice to reduce your risk. One thing you can do is consume more fish. Fish are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, a healthy polyunsaturated fat. Omega-3s have several health benefits, and they can reduce inflammation in the body, lowering your arthritis risk. You should also focus on exercise, which not only takes the stress of excess weight off your joints, but also strengthens the muscles around the joints. Try your best to avoid injury. When you injure your joints, you can damage the cartilage and cause it to wear out more quickly.
PPD & the Whole Family
PPD can put a lot of strain on relationships with your partner and other family members, leading to conflicts, reduced intimacy, and emotional distance. Your family might feel helpless, frustrated, or even neglected, making you feel even more isolated and guilty. In the case of partners, if these feelings aren’t addressed with support and counselling, they can sometimes lead to relationship breakdowns, adding to the family’s emotional burdens.
Remember, it’s crucial to understand that each relationship has different struggles and challenges. Open communication and seeking support together can help you navigate these tough times.
Supporting the Family Unit
In conclusion of this section, the effects of PPD are profound and far-reaching, touching not just you but your infant, partner, and entire family. Recognizing these impacts and risk factors highlights the importance of early detection, comprehensive treatment, and robust support systems.
Lifestyle Mentorship for Men
Since changing health habits can be especially challenging, men can benefit greatly from external support that provides personalized
guidance and a structured path towards practical and sustainable routines. Mentorship offers the opportunity to learn from someone with more experience, it fosters accountability and motivation, and it encourages men to set and achieve goals that previously felt daunting or otherwise unlikely. Most importantly, a mentor acts as someone to effectively and safely connect with and to bounce ideas and personal challenges off of. By providing tailored support where it is needed most, mentorship significantly improves the likelihood of attaining standards that were previously out of reach.
Speaking with New Dentures
New dentures (whether complete or dentures) can sometimes change your speech…for a few days, and in some cases weeks. The tongue is a muscle, and all muscles in our body have a “memory”. Therefore, your tongue may need some time to adjust to its new surroundings. By speaking and/or reading aloud, your tongue will become familiar with the new thickness of the acrylic, the frame (with partial dentures), as well as the tooth placement and size. Soon enough your speech will be back to normal. Contact your denturist if you have speech difficulties lasting more than a few weeks.
Workouts For Your Mind
Just as physical exercise can make and keep your body stronger, mental exercise can make your brain work better and lower your risk of mental decline as you age. Play games you are not already familiar with that involve strategy, like chess or bridge, and word games like Scrabble. Try crossword and other word puzzles, or number puzzles such as Sudoku. Read newspapers and books that challenge you. Get in the habit of learning new things like recipes, driving routes, or a musical instrument. Take a course in an unfamiliar subject. The more interested and engaged your brain, the more likely you’ll be to continue learning and the greater the benefits you’ll experience.
The Complex Nature of PPD
Postpartum Depression (PPD) is a complex and multifaceted condition, meaning there’s no single cause behind it. Instead, it stems from a mix of biological, psychological, and social factors that intertwine in intricate ways.
● Hormonal Changes Post-Delivery: Your body goes through major hormonal shifts after giving birth which can impact brain function, leading to PPD for some.
● Genetic Predispositions: If you have a family history of mood disorders, you may be more likely to experience PPD.
● History of Depression or Anxiety: If you’ve faced mental health issues before, you might be more susceptible to PPD. Your past experiences shape how you handle the stress of new motherhood.
● Stressful Life Events & Trauma: Big changes or traumatic events can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re adjusting to life with a newborn. These added stresses can increase the risk of PPD.
● Cultural Influences on PPD: In some cultures, mental health issues are viewed differently, which can lead to mothers not feeling comfortable sharing what they’re going through.
The Impacts of PPD
Impact on Mothers: For many mothers, PPD can bring long-lasting mental health challenges. Without timely support, it might lead to ongoing depression, anxiety, and even thoughts of self-harm. These issues can linger for years, making it challenging to handle daily family life and can impact careers and personal dreams.
You shouldn’t lose sight of the fact that it’s okay to seek help and take the time to heal. You deserve to feel capable and valued in all areas of your life.
Effects on Infants
Developmental Delays & Attachment Issues
When a mother is struggling with PPD, it can sometimes affect her baby’s development. PPD can make it hard for moms to engage in the positive and stimulating interactions that are so important for their baby’s growth. This can lead to language, motor skills, and social development delays. PPD can also make it challenging to respond to your baby’s needs in the way you want to, which might lead to attachment issues.
Breastfeeding & Infant Nutrition
Breastfeeding can be particularly challenging when you’re dealing with PPD. Depression can make it hard to start and continue breastfeeding, which can affect your baby’s nutrition and immune protection. These challenges can add to your stress and feelings of inadequacy, creating a tough cycle. A key thing to keep in mind is that this isn’t your fault, and reaching out for help is a crucial step.
Disability Tax Credit Eligibility
If you have COPD, neuropathy, or joint arthritis impacting your mobility with pain, exhaustion, or shortness of breath, you may qualify for retroactive disability tax credit payments. This credit helps individuals with differing abilities receive financial compensation for a previous period of eligibility. You may qualify if you are restricted in walking all or substantially all the time and take approximately 3 times longer to walk 100 metres. If you have experienced fatigue, pain, shortness of breath, lack of coordination, and balance issues while walking, then call us for more information. We can get the eligibility process started for you.
A Call to Men
The fact is that your family and loved ones are counting on YOU for their experience of love, safety, and direction. The massive impact that we have as leaders and role models is unquestionable. That’s why as men and fathers, our commitment to our health and masculine integrity – which are inseparable – speaks volumes, then continues to speak for decades and generations. So if you want to change the course of your family legacy, start prioritizing your lifestyle habits because they determine not only your form and function, but ultimately how you show up as a man. “After working together for 90 days, Kai has had a profound effect on the trajectory of my life” – Will Cordingley –
Denture Care Tips
It’s important to continue proper denture and oral health care, even during the busy summer months. To keep them in good condition, rinse your dentures after meals to prevent buildup and stay hydrated to maintain oral moisture. Avoid leaving dentures in direct sunlight or hot environments, as this can affect the acrylic. Clean them daily with a soft brush and non-abrasive cleaner to remove bacteria (do not use toothpaste to clean your dentures). For a refreshing feel, store your dentures overnight in water with a bit of mouthwash. Regular denture check-ups are essential to ensure proper fit and function. Enjoy the summer with a confident and comfortable smile!
